Dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member may comprise a translating member disposed within the tubular member responsive to forces applied to the exterior of the tubular member to axially advance, in one direction, through the tubular member. In one embodiment, the translating member is mounted within a flexible tubular pencil barrel adjacent one end of a stick of writing material longitudinally disposed in the barrel. The translating member is responsive to deformation forces applied to the pencil barrel to axially advance the writing stick through the barrel.

United States Patent [191 Chaudoir et al. I

[1111" 3,806,262 Apr. 23, 1 974 [54] DISPENSING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Charles J. Chaudoir; True E.

Cousins, both of Houston; Kornel Nagy, Channelview, all of Tex.

[731 Assignees: Bill B. Berryhill, Bellaire; Carlos A. Torres, Houston, both of, Tex. part interest to each [22] Filed:

Mar. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 238,326

[52 U.S. c|.... 40'1/56, 401/88 51 int. Cl B43k' 21/16 [58] Field of Search 401/80-84,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,978,722 4/1961 Kusakabe 401/176 3,521,795 7/1970 Langhjelm et a1. 222/386 1,647,536 11/1927 Miller 401/88 3,576,374 Lile 401/55 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 908,437 l0/1962f Great Britain 401/55 Primary Examiner--Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Torres; & Berryhill [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member may comprise a translating member disposed .within the tubular member responsive 'to forces applied to the exterior of the tubular member to axially advance, in one direction, through the tubular memher. In one embodiment, the translating member is mounted within a flexible tubular pencil barrel adjacent one end of a stick of writing material longitudinally disposed in the barrel. The translating member is responsive to deformation forces applied to the pencil barrel to axially advance the writing stick through the barrel.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DISPENSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member. In particular, it concerns apparatus suitable for axially advancing a material through ,a tubular member for dispensing through one end thereof. Morespecifically,*th.e present invention pertains to simplified translating apparatus suitable for feeding a pencil lead out the end of a pencil barrel. i 2. Description of the Prior Art Mechanical pencils have beenknownfor many years. Such pencils eliminate the necessity of having to frequently sharpen the pencil as with the common wooden pencil: However, one disadvantage of the mechanical pencils heretofore developed is that they are relatively expensive in comparison with wooden pencils. Many attempts have been made to develop a simplified mechanicalpencilwhich can compete with the less expensive wood pencils. Some of these designs may be seen by referring to the following U. S. Pats: No. 444,974 Climenson, No. 605,657 Toquet, No. 2,523,568 I-Ialverson and No. 2,563,551 Refsdal. Although some-of these designs areless expensive than some me chanical pencils, they are still more expensive than the common wooden pencil, and naturally, more complex.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION.

In, I the present invention, a simplified translating mechanism is disclosed for dispensing material from a tubular member in which the translating member is disposed. The translating member may comprise a central body portion from which a resilient portion projects radially for engagement with the intemal wallsof the tubular member. The tubular member is deformable "on the application of external forces thereto to cause alternate deformation and restoration of the resilient por tion of the translating member. The resilient portion can takelthe form of a frusto-conical skirt, a plurality of f ngers, or other shapes, slanting in a rearwardly dr rection relative to the direction of desired axial advance. The unique shape of the translating member formation and restoration of the surrounding tubular member causing the material contained therein to be dispensed through one end of the tubular member.

Thedesign concept for the mechanical pencil andthe common wooden writing pencil have been relatively unchanged "for many years. With the translatingmechanismpf the present invention, thesame utility is providedwith significant cost reduction. 'fhe translating mechanism described herein is not only useful for pen causes it to be advanced step by step on alternate de- 2 cils but for any use which may requirethe dispensing of a material from a tubular member.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to'pro vide a mechanical pencil which is simple to operate and very inexpensive to manufacture. Another object is to provide a pencil which is safer than other mechanical pencils.

Still another object is to provide a translating mechanism suitable for use in dispensers for lubricants, adhesives, medicines, drugs, cosmetics, etc. Still another object is to provide such a translating'mechanism which is both simple to manufacture and operate and is of a novel construction appealing to the inherent inquisitiveness of man. Many other'objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description which follow,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 'In the description which follows reference will bemade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a simplified mechanical pencil employing atranslating mechanism according to apreferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is across-sectional view of another variation of the translating mechanism" of the invention "shown in aflexible tubular member which has beenovaled or deformed by pressing on opposite sides thereof;

FIG. 3, taken along line 33 of FIG. 2, is a longitudinal section of the deformed tubular and translating members of FIG. 2, taken along'the minor diameter thereof; 7 I 5 FIG. 4, taken along line. 4-4 of FIG. 2, is a 'longitudi nal section similar to FIG. 3 except being taken along the majordiameter thereof; and

F IG. 5 is a perspective view of the portion of a tubular member in which is disposed a translating mechanism according to still another variation thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FlG. 1, there is shown a tubular pencil barrel l0'inwhich is longitudinally disposed a writing stick or pencil lead 12. The pencil barrel I0 is provided with a frusto-conicaltip I4 through the end of which is provideda cylindrical aperture :or passage 16. The tip 14canbe separately manufacturedof metal orany othersuitable material. Howevenit can be integrally formed with the T6St 0f the barrel 1 0. Thebarrel 10 is preferably of a flexible material such as plastic and maybe formedby extruding. Thepencilitip 14 can also be provided witha countersunk frusto-conical funnel or guide cone 18 to facilitate feeding of lead through the aperture 16. The rearwardendof the lead stick '12 is affixed to a translating mechanism 20 which is longitudinally disposed within the barrel 10.

The translating mechanism 20 can take several forms. The one shown in FIG. 1 has a cylindrical body portion 21 at the forward end of which is a frusto conical guide nose22and at the rearward end of which is a frusto-conical skirtportion 23. The diameterofthe body portion 21 and the minor diameter of the frustoconical skirt 23 is less than the internal diameterof the barrel 10. The major diameter. of the frusto conical skirt 23, inits free state, is greater than the internal diameter of barrel 10. The translating member 20 is of a resilient material, such as rubber, and when it is insertedinto thepencil barrel 10 from the end opposite tip 14, the-skirt 23 is compressed or deformed by the walls of the barrel 10. The rear end of translating member may be countersunk'or hollowed out such as shown at to make the lip 27 at the base of skirt 23 more flexible.

By grasping the pencil barrel 10 near the translating mechanism 20 and applying an external force thereto, by finger pressure, the barrel will be deformed so that its cross section at that point has an oval shape such as the barrel shown in FIG. 2. When the barrel 10 is deformed, a portion of the skirt member 23 is deformed or flexed inwardly. When the barrel is released, its circular cross section is restored. During the release, the" deformed portion of the skirt 23 expands. However, since the skirt 23 flares rearwardly, it resists movement in the rearward direction. Thus, the expansion of the skirt, or return to its initial position, exerts a force in the forward axial direction, causing the body portion 21 and consequently lead stick 12 to be advanced a short distance. Forces can be alternately applied to and released from the barrel or the barrel can be rolled between the fingers to repeat the cycle. 1

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, another embodiment o the invention will be shown which will further illustrate the step by step advancing concept utilized in the invention. The translating mechanism 40 of this particular embodiment is shown disposed in a flexible tubular member 30, such as the barrel 10 in FIG. 1. It also comprises a central body portion 41. However, instead of a frusto-conical skirt, such as 23 in FIG. 1, a plurality of resilient fingers 43 project radially therefrom for contact with the tubular body 30 in much the same manner as the frusto-conical skirt 23 of FIG. 1. In the illustration shown, there are two sets of four fingers each oriented at 90 to each other. The translating mechanism 40 is placed inside the tubular body 30, which has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of a circle enclosing the tips of fingers 43 in their free standing position. Ovaling the body 30, around the translating member 40, increases the preload and grip of the fingers 43 on the minor axis' while relieving the preload on the major axis, allowing the fingers '43 on the major axis to. spring forward and outward, as shown in FIG. 4. Restoring the tube to its nondeformed shape, causes the extended fingers 43 to grip the body walls, preventing backward motion and pulling the other fingers 43 forward along the central body portion 40.

translating member is disposed can be of any axisymmetric configuration as long as it can be significantly deformed without permanent set. There are, of course, a number of translating member shapes which will also function. Conical frustums such as shown in FIG. 1 and angled fingers or wires such as shown in FIGS. 2-4 can be used individually or in many combinations. In FIG. 5 an alternate variation is shown having a central body portion 50 and a pair of frustoconical sections 51 and 52. Lips 54 and 55 at the base of each of the frusto-conical sections engagethe internal wall of a tubular member 60 in the same manner as the ends of fingers 43 in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 and the lip 27 of the skirt portion 23 of FIG. 1.

By selecting the proper barrel or tube material, a pencil embodying the present invention can be much safer than other" mechanical pencils. The material selected can be adequately stiff for normal handling and use yet soft enough to collapse if struck sharply (as with a child falling on the pencil). During the collapse of the barrel, the lead stick will break harmlessly within the barrel. I

The unique translating mechanism disclosed herein can be used, of course, not only with pencils, but in any other application which requires the dispensing of a material from a tubular container. For example, it is ideally suited for dispensers for lubricants, adhesives, medicines, drugs, cosmetics, etc. The common lipstick or lip balm would be ideally suited for such a mechanism.

Components of a pencil or dispenser may, according to the present invention, all be made from plastics which are amenable to mass production at very low unit cost. There are no close tolerance parts and the materials are not critical. The tubular body can be a simple extrusion of elastic material such as plastic, metal, rubber, etc. The translating mechanism or piston can be an injection molded part or machined from similar elastic material. The unique mechanism of themvention utilizes only two simple components. 2

Although 'only three embodiments of the invention have been described herein, several applications thereof have been mentioned. Many other variations of construction and applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member comprising resilient means disposed within said tubular member responsive to radial forces applied to the exterior of said tubular member, around said resilient means, to axially advance through said tubular member in one direction only.

2. Apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member comprising resilient means disposed within said tubular member responsive to radial forcesapplied to the exterior of said tubular member, around said resilient means, to axially advance through said tubular member, said resilient means including a central body portion from which radially projects projection means for engagement with the internal walls of said tubular member, said projection means being deformable on alternate deformation and restoration of said tubular member caused by application of said external forces to advance said body portion through said tubular member.

3. Apparatus asset forth in claim 2 in which said projection means comprises a frusto-conical skirt converging toward the direction of said axial advance.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the major diameter of said skirt is greater than the internal diameter of said tubular 'member and being of a resilient material to allow compression of the ends of said skirt on insertion into said tubular member and further deformation of said skirt on said deformation of said tubular member.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said projection means comprises a plurality of. finger means projecting from said body portion in a rearward direction relative to said axial advance.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said finger means is of a resilient material bendable from a first position, in said rearward direction, to a second position on said deformation of said tubular member therearound and returnable to said first position on said restoration of said tubular member causing'said central portion to be advanced by an increment.

7. A pencil comprising: a flexible tubular barrel; a stick of writing material longitudinally disposed in said barrel; and resilient translating means engaging said stick within said barrel responsive to radial deformation forces applied to said barrel around said translating means to axially advance said stick and said translating means through said barrel in one direction only.

8. A pencil comprising: a flexible tubular barrel; a stick of writing material longitudinally disposed in said barrel; and resilient translating means engaging said stick within said barrel responsive to radial deformation forces applied to said barrel around said translating means to axially advance said stick through said barrel, said' translating means comprising'a central body portion from which radially projects resilient means for engagement with the interior of said barrel.

9, A pencil as set forth claim Sin which said resilient means comprises a frusto-conical skirt converging toward the direction of said axial advance, the major diameter of said skirt being greater than the internal diameter of said barrel.

10. A pencil as set forth in claim 9 in which said resilient means comprises a plurality of fingers slanting in a rearward direction relative to said axial advance.

1]. Apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member comprising resilient translating means disposed within said tubular member responsive to compressiveradial forces alternately applied around the periphery of said tubular member to axially advance through said tubular member, said translating means being provided with means engaging said tubular member allowing only uni-directional advancement of said translating means in response to said alternately applied radial force. t

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said alternately applied compressive forces may be applied by rolling said tubular member between the fingers of ones hand. v

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which said material to be dispensed comprises a stick of writing material disposed within said tubular member and engaging said translating means. 

1. Apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member comprising resilient means disposed within said tubular member responsive to radial forces applied to the exterior of said tubular member, around said resilient means, to axially advance through said tubular member in one direction only.
 2. Apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member comprising resilient means disposed within said tubular member responsive to radial forces applied to the exterior of said tubular member, around said resilient means, to axially advance through said tubular member, said resilient means including a central body portion from which radially projects projection means for engagement with the internal walls of said tubular member, said projection means being deformable on alternate deformation and restoration of said tubular member caused by application of said external forces to advance said body portion through said tubular member.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said projection means comprises a frusto-conical skirt converging toward the direction of said axial advance.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the major diameter of said skirt is greater than the internal diameter of said tubular member and being of a resilient material to allow compression of the ends of said skirt on insertion into said tubular member and further deformation of said skirt on said deformation of said tubular member.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said projection means comprises a plurality of finger means projecting from said body portion in a rearward direction relative to said axial advance.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said finger means is of a resilient material bendable from a first position, in said rearward direction, to a second position on said deformation of said tubular member therearound and returnable to said first position on said restoration of said tubular member causing said central portion to be advanced by an increment.
 7. A pencil comprising: a flexible tubular barrel; a stick of writing material longitudinally disposed in said barrel; and resilient translating means engaging said stick within said barrel responsive to radial deformation forces applied to said barrel around said translating means to axially advance said stick and said translating means through said barrel in one direction only.
 8. A pencil comprising: a flexible tubular barrel; a stick of writing material longitudinally disposed in said barrel; and resilient translating means engaging said stick within said barrel responsive to radial deformation forces applied to said barrel around said translating means to axially advance said stick through said barrel, said translating means comprising a central body portion from which radially projects resIlient means for engagement with the interior of said barrel.
 9. A pencil as set forth in claim 8 in which said resilient means comprises a frusto-conical skirt converging toward the direction of said axial advance, the major diameter of said skirt being greater than the internal diameter of said barrel.
 10. A pencil as set forth in claim 9 in which said resilient means comprises a plurality of fingers slanting in a rearward direction relative to said axial advance.
 11. Apparatus for dispensing material from a tubular member comprising resilient translating means disposed within said tubular member responsive to compressive radial forces alternately applied around the periphery of said tubular member to axially advance through said tubular member, said translating means being provided with means engaging said tubular member allowing only uni-directional advancement of said translating means in response to said alternately applied radial force.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said alternately applied compressive forces may be applied by rolling said tubular member between the fingers of one''s hand.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which said material to be dispensed comprises a stick of writing material disposed within said tubular member and engaging said translating means. 